But for A-League clubs struggling to make ends meet, the ACL is proving to be a costly form of vanity. Good on the surface, but not a lot of substance underneath. Not yet, at least.

Four years ago, things seemed so different. The ACL was the brave new world for the A-League, and the Sky Blues [along with Adelaide United] were brimming with anticipation and excitement about being part of it. Steve Corica became the first A-League player to score a goal in the ACL as Shanghai Shenhua were shocked to lose at home to the upstarts from Australia. In the years since, Australian clubs have been largely competitive on the field. Off it, though, the field the ACL still struggles to resonate with Australian fans. Some say its popularity has gone backwards.

Tonight, it's Sydney FC's turn to welcome Shanghai Shenhua for the second time. The same fixture four years ago drew almost 15,000. Tonight, Barlow would be delighted if the attendance reached half that. Sadly, most of Sydney's Chinese community don't know one of the most popular clubs in the Chinese Super League is in town.

''Sydney FC would like to play a passing game; maybe that's sometimes difficult to do on this quality [of] pitch. But the pitch is the same for both teams and we've prepared for similar conditions at our training base at Macquarie University, so we are ready. It's no problem for us.''

Shanghai Shenhua coach Xi Zhikang was also clearly unhappy with the state of the field after viewing the surface yesterday afternoon.

''The field is not as good as the Shanghai field,'' he said. ''But I don't think it [will affect the game] because it is fair to both teams.''

One advantage for Sydney will be the absence of injured Shanghai pair Yu Tao and Wang Dalei, who are the usual captain and vice-captain respectively. By contrast, Sydney's talented young forward Dimitri Petratos is fit after missing the opening group match.

Musialik will hold the captain's armband for an extra week after the Asian Football Confederation yesterday extended Terry McFlynn's ban for stomping to two matches.

SYDNEY FC coach Viteszlav Lavicka admits his side now faces an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages of the Asian Champions League after their draw against Shanghai Shenhua at the Sydney Football Stadium last night.

The Sky Blues sit third in the group after their opening two matches but that's under the expectations of Lavicka, who was hoping to have notched at least one and possibly two wins by this point. The other result in the group last night, a 1-1 draw between Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Kashima Antlers, means the Sky Blues are level on points with the highly fancied Japanese side but three points adrift of Suwon.

Despite having the better of the occasion and the bulk of possession against a plucky Shanghai outfit, Sydney couldn't find a way through when they needed it most, leaving Lavicka stewing.

SYDNEY FC marquee midfielder Nicky Carle has warned his teammates that Japanese giants Kashima Antlers will be at level above what they've faced in their Asian Champions League campaign.

So far, Sydney have had draws against South Korean team Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, and are equal second with Kashima, who have drawn two of their away matches.

While Sydney have been far from disgraced in both their ACL matches, their inability to convert possession into goals - they had 67 per cent of play against Shanghai - is a sore point for the players and fans.

Carle to miss Wednesday's match against Kashima Antlers at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Carle strained his right hamstring early in the 1-1 draw against Shanghai Shenhua last week but continued to play, despite again tweaking the same muscle later in the game. The 29-year-old was clearly restricted late in the match but still put in an excellent shift, capped by his first-half equaliser.

He will be in the stands for at least one match, and the club's medical staff will be keeping a close watch on his recovery as Sydney's revised schedule means they play against Shangai in China tomorrow week. Young teenage forward Dimitrios Petratos, who has recovered from his own recent injury worries, is expected to take his place.

Byun could take the place of Adam D'Apuzzo, who quit the Jets at the end of the season to return home to Sydney. He had been invited to trial at Sydney FC recently but injury prevented him from showcasing his ability, and he will be allowed to resume his trial later this month.

The club is also looking at a solution for out-of-favour forward Juho Makela, who asked to be released when he missed out on a place in the club's ACL squad. However, it is understood the Finnish striker is happy to stay and see out his contract if he can secure a loan move elsewhere.

Cool- lets play the hardest team in the group missing a few of our stars.

Already without marquee midfielder Nicky Carle, who strained his right hamstring in the 1-1 draw against Shanghai Shenhua last Wednesday, Sydney now appear to have problems with Sebastian Ryall and David Williams. Lavicka yesterday declined to name his injured players.

Ryall was forced off the park at training yesterday immediately after the warm-up, and Williams gingerly got through the opening drills before retiring to the sidelines.
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Ryall was treated by the club physios for the remainder of the session while Williams was busy trying to work out a twinge in his calf, and it seems certain both players will miss the game against the seven-time J-League champions.

There are still three matches to play in the group stages but it seems near-impossible that Vitezslav Lavicka can rescue something from the tournament.

All three games are away, starting with a visit to Shanghai Shenhua next Tuesday. If they can't win that, given that the Chinese side is arguably the group's weakest, the Sky Blues will find themselves too far behind Kashima and Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

Excuses cannot be made but the absence of creative pair Nicky Carle and David Williams meant there was no imagination in attack, and when defender Stephan Keller picked up an injury in the opening minute, it was clear the luck Sydney needed had deserted them.

Lavicka admitted the Antlers were the best side he'd come up against in the two years he has been at the helm of Sydney.

''It was a good experience for us,'' he said. ''In the A-League there are several good quality teams but international club level is a bit different. We saw that tonight.''

When Harry Kewell talked to Sydney FC last year about a possible stint in the A-League he wanted, among other things, a percentage of gate takings. A year later, Kewell might be better off getting his money up front. That's how much the Sky Blues have lost their mojo.

It's time to bring back the bling.

It won't come cheap, of course. Kewell, out of contract at Galatasaray, is again putting out feelers about playing in the A-League. Gold Coast United and Newcastle Jets have been sounded out. Asking price? Said to be around $3 million, after tax.

That's a lot of money in an economic environment as fraught as the A-League. Whether Kewell is worth it is a matter of debate. What's less debatable is that Sydney FC - as a team and a club - desperately need a box-office hit. Granted, there are structural issues that need to be fixed. The incoming chief executive, believed to be either Scott Longmuir or Tony Pignata, is going to have plenty on his plate. The challenge will be much easier if the club learns to stand for something. How about a club that likes to think big? The owners are rich enough to be able to afford a big-name marquee player. With crowds plummeting, sponsors deserting and coverage disappearing, can they afford not to take the risk?

Four years ago, Sydney FC dived head-first into the realm of Asian football not knowing what they were getting themselves into. As the continental guinea pigs for football in Australia, it should have been daunting.

The opponents that night were Shanghai Shenhua, and it was the first time an A-League team had participated in the Asian Champions League. Uncharted territory it might have been, but the Sky Blues, still imbued by the ''Bling FC'' era, were bristling with swagger. The 2-1 triumph remains one of the club's greatest nights.

These days the club bears little comparison to one that wrestled with Asia's giants as if they were equals. But Sydney's own paragraph of history in this incredibly storied city is positive, and that counts for something. A win at the Hongkou Stadium tonight would be as significant as any from their two ACL campaigns, including that glorious debut.

A sign of the changing face of Sydney is that there is not one surviving member from the team that won here in 2007, although there are enough links to ensure the memory remains. Steve Corica, who scored the opening goal after just eight minutes, returns as an assistant coach. Terry McFlynn was injured and missed the game but arrives as captain this time around.

McFlynn said Carle would provide a huge boost for the side after they missed him dearly in the 3-0 loss to Kashima last Wednesday. ''Nicky's a great player, and if we want to win games, we need our creative players in the mix and at the peak of their game,'' he said. ''He's pulled up fine after the flight and some training. He'll be ready to go.''

Well- we finally learn't how to score again. Just have to work on our defending and we might have a chance in the next two games.

Sydney FC strikers Bruno Cazarine and Mark Bridge both showed the killer instinct demanded by coach Vitezslav Lavicka, to keep alive their team's prospects of making the knockout stages of the Asian Champions League football tournament.

Two beautifully taken goals by Brazilian Cazarine and an equally impressive stoppage time strike from Bridge gave Sydney a 3-2 away win over Shanghai Shenhua in China on Tuesday night.

They twice came from behind and survived some sloppy defending to secure their first win in four group games.

The precious victory moved them within a point of group pacesetters Suwon Bluewings of South Korea and Japan's Kashima Antlers, who drew 1-1 in Tokyo on Tuesday.

You know, I'd completely forgotten about Durante, but I suppose I can't really be blamed for that one.

Bit of a scrappy game, but a very good result for Sydney, particularly playing away. Bit lucky that the Shanghai players skied most of their shots, but still... what a ball from Carle to set up Bruno Cazarine (aka Mr Strainy Voice) on that first goal. Bruno and Bridge were also quite decent.